Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The MadTech Podcast

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, Josh Hill, senior director, head of optimisation EMEA at Kepler Group, joins ExchangeWire's John Still and Grainne Reid to discuss OpenAI hacking Hugging Face, Google's €890m EU fine, and the Paramount-Warner Bros deal.

The first story this week is an autonomous OpenAI agent hacking into AI startup Hugging Face. The conversation explores the need for more AI standards and guardrails, and how AI might impact the future of media buying. The second covers the EU finally showing its regulatory teeth and imposing an €890m fine on Google over search and app store breaches.

Finally, a judge has temporarily blocked Paramount Skydance's bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Will the deal still go through? And what might a united Paramount-Warner Bros mean for the future of TV ad buying?

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0:00 Introduction
0:57 OpenAI hacks Hugging Face
10:09 EU fines Google €890m over DMA breaches
16:20 Judge halts Paramount-Warner Bros deal

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree is joined by CEO Rachel Smith and Zac Selby, SVP of global solutions for data & technology at dentsu.

They look at IAB Australia’s 'Future of Measurement' initiative, Google securing a patent for AI-generated landing pages, and Apple introducing advertisements in Apple Maps.

0:00 Introduction
1:20 IAB Australia launches new initiative
12:51 Google patents right to replace landing pages
27:34 Apple to introduce ads in Maps

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree is joined by Rob McLaughlin, founder & CEO of AUDIENCES, and Sandy Ghuman, senior product manager for customer data & transformation at easyJet.

They look at the challenges of activating first party data, from complexities to cultural silos, and how brands can turn their data into meaningful signals.

0:00 Introduction
1:32 Challenges of data activation
19:54 Data collection & channel selection
30:57 Connecting different specialists
40:34 The next 3 years

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Uber and Delivery Hero joining forces, Stripe and Advent launching a $53bn bid for PayPal, and DoorDash integrating with Shopify.

At what figure did Axel Springer acquire the Telegraph? What percentage of ads served on ChatGPT were retail and grocery related? How many children are taking part in the UK's trial for a potential social media ban?

In this quiz edition of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content. They look into M&A in publishing, advertising in AI, and social media restrictions for under-16s.

0:00 Introduction
1:06 Axel Springer acquires the Telegraph
11:31 ChatGPT's ads trial
28:29 UK trials social media restrictions

*This podcast was recorded before recent events across the Middle East, and as such makes no mention of the geopolitical situation in the region.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content, John Still, is joined by Rad Arekat, founder of the Middle East Social Media & Digital Association (MESMDA). 

They discuss the changes and opportunities in MENA's social media and digital industry, areas of growth and spend, and the vision for the association.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers retail ads dominating on ChatGPT, Walmart announcing the phase-out of Vizio accounts on its TVs, and the Trump Administration drawing up new rules following its clash with Anthropic. 

On this week's MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree and CEO Rachel Smith join John Still to discuss Netflix’s short-form ambitions, Sky’s purchase of ITV and what went down at ATS Singapore...

Netflix Strikes Short-Form Video Deals with Major Publishers (Straits Times)

Netflix has signed licensing deals with Penske Media, BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst and People Inc. for short-form video (2–20+ minutes), launching August 3 across the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. 

They define short-form as 2-20 mins, and this move comes on the back of YouTube overtaking Netflix in daily viewing time and TikTok closing the gap…

ITV Sells Media & Entertainment Arm to Comcast's Sky for £1.6bn (Reuters)

ITV has agreed to sell its broadcast channels and streaming service to Comcast-owned Sky for up to £1.6bn, spinning ITV Studios off separately. 

The combined Sky/ITV entity would command over 70% of UK TV advertising and aims to compete with global streamers, though regulators may force Sky to give up its third-party ad sales business.

ATS Singapore Wrap-Up

We’re back from a successful ATS Singapore - we had over 1000 guests present to discuss the issues, challenges and opportunities for our industry…

Today’s MadTech Daily covers Axel Springer acquiring the Telegraph for £575m, Indonesia moving to implement a social media ban for under-16s, and the UK delaying AI copyright rule decisions. 

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover Amazon expanding its audience segments to Netflix, the BBC floating iPlayer as a home for rival broadcasters, and the ITV reporting its latest revenue figures. 

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith and COO Lindsay Rowntree join head of marketing, Grainne Reid, to discuss the agentic commerce and streaming landscapes.

They look into Meta's new shopping research tool and the conclusion to Netflix and Paramount's months-long battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery.

0:00 Introduction
0:55 Meta tests AI shopping tool
13:47 Netflix withdraws WBD bid

In today’s Madtech Daily, we cover Meta trialling an AI shopping tool to challenge ChatGPT, Google planning to fill 150 tech roles in Singapore, Gemini, and eBay cutting 800 jobs, 6% of its workforce.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers the UK launching a consultation on a social media ban for under-16s, a Google patent hinting at AI-generated landing pages, and Roblox surpassing TikTok in Gen Z shopping growth.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers Netflix pulling out of the bidding war for Warner Bros, Dentsu naming Takeshi Sano as global CEO, and HubSpot expanding its media reach with a Starter Story deal.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane to discuss streaming, retail, and out-of-home.

They look into Ofcom's regulation of video-on-demand platforms, backlash over in-game ads on the Six Nations debut, and Walmart’s AI-powered shopping assistant, Sparky.

0:00 Introduction
1:51 UK streamers face 'enhanced regulation'
11:14 Rugby fans riled over in-game ads
20:16 Walmart's AI boosts order value
31:20 2025 out-of-home revenue

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover WPP unveiling a £500m cost-cutting plan in an AI-led overhaul, ByteDance being valued at $550bn in a proposed General Atlantic stake sale, and UK news giants launching a ‘NATO for News’ AI coalition.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at DoorDash ending Deliveroo operations in Singapore, ITV Studios launching Studio 55 and opening its content library, as well as Apple rolling out global age-verification tools.

In our very first mailbag special, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by CEO Rachel Smith and John Still, head of content, to answer our listeners’ biggest questions about ad tech and media.

The team put on their media planning hats, debating where they would allocate spend across retail & commerce media, CTV, and out-of-home. They also discuss the strengths of independent agencies versus holdcos, and unpack the legal and regulatory battles shaping the industry, from antitrust trials to social media bans.

0:00 Introduction
1:27 Kerry asks: Media planning
14:01 Steve asks: Agencies
26:16 Paul asks: Investigations & policy moves

How many UK households have a Netflix subscription? What percentage of Meta’s total revenue comes from scam ads? What was the smartphone usage rate in the UAE in 2025?

In this quiz edition of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content. They look into the changing TV and streaming landscape, tolerances for fraudulent ads (and insects in chocolate), and open web versus mobile advertising.

0:00 Introduction
1:14 SVOD subscription numbers
13:28 Meta scam ads revenue
21:15 Smartphone usage rates
26:01 MENA focus

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith is joined by Abdelnabi Alaedinne, regional director for digital & partnerships at UM MENAT, to discuss the evolving media and advertising landscape in MENA.

Their conversation delves into emerging trends in the region, critical skills for media planners and strategists to effectively utilise AI, and balancing AI-driven efficiency with human creativity and strategy.

0:00 Introduction; MENA media landscape
5:46 Role and impact of AI 
13:41 Optimisation and measurement value
27:19 Influence of planners & strategists
36:44 The next wave of media innovation